Opinion
41402.
ARGUED JULY 6, 1965.
DECIDED SEPTEMBER 8, 1965.
Action on account. Fulton Civil Court. Before Judge Camp.
David H. Fink, for plaintiffs in error.
R. V. Karlberg, contra.
The trial court did not err in overruling defendants' general demurrer to the petition in this case.
ARGUED JULY 6, 1965 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 8, 1965.
This action upon an open account was brought by Universal Creditors Association, Inc., as assignee of a firm composed of several medical doctors, against Leonard R. Wood and Joan C. Wood. The defendants except to the trial court's judgment overruling their general demurrer. Defendants contend (1) that the petition fails to state a cause of action because Joan C. Wood is the wife of Leonard R. Wood and the indebtedness was for necessities; and (2) that the petition fails to state a cause of action because plaintiff is not a real party in interest.
1. The petition does not show that Leonard R. Wood and Joan C. Wood were husband and wife. Defendants' first contention is thus based upon matter dehors the record. Except for matters of which the court may take judicial notice ( Genesco, Inc. v. Greeson, 105 Ga. App. 798, 800 ( 125 S.E.2d 786), a court in passing on a general demurrer to a pleading, cannot consider aliunde matter not appearing in the pleading. Seibels v. Hodges, 65 Ga. 245, 247 (3); Pollard v. Blalock, 147 Ga. 406 (3) ( 94 S.E. 226); Crowley v. Calhoun, 161 Ga. 354 (2) ( 130 S.E. 563); Sims v. Etheridge, 169 Ga. 400 (2) ( 150 S.E. 647); Kinney v. Crow, 186 Ga. 851, 857 ( 199 S.E. 198); Rawleigh Co. v. Etheridge, 37 Ga. App. 554, 557 ( 140 S.E. 913); Bowman v. Davis, 51 Ga. App. 478, 480 (6) ( 180 S.E. 917).
2. In their second contention defendants argue that the assignment of the claim to plaintiff fails to show that the assignor is a legal entity; and that the plaintiff corporation "can stand in no better position than its transferor." The assignment of the claim, a copy of which is annexed to the petition as an exhibit, shows that it was executed by one member of a named "firm" composed of several medical doctors, on behalf of the firm. In common acceptation the word "firm" is synonymous with "partnership." Thomas-Bonner Co. v. Hooven, Owens Rentschler Co., 284 F. 377, 380 (S.D. Ohio); Gustafson v. Taber, 125 Mont. 225 ( 234 P.2d 471); Bufton v. Hoseley, 236 Ore. 12 ( 386 P.2d 471). Any member of a partnership may in its behalf transfer in writing choses in action belonging to the firm. Whitehurst Hilliard v. Brice Co., 14 Ga. App. 209, 213 ( 80 S.E. 670). The assignment to the corporation, the plaintiff in this case, being valid, there is no merit in the defendants' contention that the plaintiff is not a real party at interest.
The trial court properly overruled defendant's general demurrer to plaintiff's petition.
Judgment affirmed. Frankum and Hall, JJ., concur.